MoPH issues guidelines for precautionary measures in Phase 2 of lifting restrictions

QNA – Doha:

The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has issued guidelines for the precautionary measures in the second phase of lifting restrictions imposed as a result of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.  

The guidelines seek to provide guidance based on research into best practices to facilitate the safe return of activities gradually, while developing precautionary measures that contribute to limiting the spread of the Covid-19 and protecting the visitors and employees in each agency from the risk of infection.

The guidelines include the most prominent procedures and guidelines to be implemented in gatherings, transportation, outdoor venues and professional sports, health and education, business and entertainment, according to the requirements of each activity, with a focus on infection prevention and control. 

It also includes visitors and employee awareness and physical distancing guidelines to maintain a safe distance, in addition to guidelines for groups most vulnerable to complications of the disease, such as the elderly and those with chronic diseases.

The second phase includes allowing limited social gatherings, with a maximum of five people indoors and 10 people outdoors.

The ministry advised people to be cautious and reduce social visits, including family visits as possible, and ensure that the requirements of the new phase are applied, including the accuracy of following all preventive measures, such as washing hands or sterilising regularly, wearing masks, and adhering to a physical distance of at least 1.5m from others at all times, in addition to installing Ehteraz app.

The second phase also includes opening some retail markets, wholesale markets, museums and libraries to the public with a limited capacity, in addition to opening a limited number of restaurants with a limited capacity to ensure physical distancing, in addition to opening public parks, beaches and the Corniche for all age groups with the application of distancing procedures and the continued closure of playgrounds, and allowing training in the open spaces and large halls for the professional category, with a maximum of 10 people.

Vocational training courses are also allowed for small groups of up to 10 people indoors, and groups of up to 50 people outdoors.

The second phase also witnesses the opening of more mosques to perform the five daily prayers with limited capacity. Shopping centres will operate with an increased capacity of 50%; however, all restaurants within the shopping centres will remain closed.

It also allowed the number of employees who start their work in the public and private sectors to be increased to 50% as a maximum. The restrictions imposed on inbound flights to Doha remain unchanged as in the first phase.

Director of the Public Health Department at the Ministry of Public Health Sheikh Dr Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani said that while more restrictions are lifted to restore life to normal, the precautionary measures announced by the Ministry of Public Health must be followed to protect ourselves, our families and our society as a whole.

He stressed that the transition from one phase to another depends on strict indicators and the extent of everyone’s commitment to the instructions, as restrictions can be re-imposed at any time if the data shows that there is a need to do so. 

He pointed out that the past few weeks have witnessed an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases among citizens and residents (other than expatriate workers), despite the decrease in the total daily infections in Qatar, adding that the source of the infection is often due to family gatherings and visits, and the lack of commitment to measures, especially physical distancing.

 The Ministry of Public Health advised other groups at greatest risk of complications from the disease, such as the elderly, pregnant women and people suffering from chronic diseases, to stay at home and not go out unless absolutely necessary and avoid all forms of social gatherings, including receiving visitors. 

It worth mentioning that the guidelines related to the precautionary measures for the second phase of lifting the restrictions imposed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic are available on the MoPH’s website.